McNabb, collected from the Redskins in post-lockout haste, is the official backup in this week 7 game. Minnesota's clash Sunday with the Super Bowl champs and still undefeated Green Bay Packers (6-0) represents the starting debut of Ponder, a Florida State Seminole standout picked 12th overall in the 2011 draft. The Vikings signed Ponder on July 31, 2011 as the lockout's end inspired a frenzied pace of business to prepare for the regular season. Sunday he goes in with a chance to make history if he can somehow come out with the win as an unseasoned rookie facing such a powerful pro team like the Packers.
The Denver Broncos (2-4) place Tim Tebow (17-37, 240 Yards, 3 TD before Sunday's start) at the helm to start a game for the first time this season with minimal experience under center. Although he was a wildly popular college player, Tebow has been more of a polarizing figure in his first years as a pro. His running tendencies are often overzealous and cause him too make too many mistakes. Adding extra pressure to an already stressful situation, Tebow's first big start of the season happens in Miami, where he is well known due to his fantastic college play for the Florida Gators. Tebow was the first college quarterback to rush and throw for 20 or more touchdowns in a single season in his sophomore year with the Gators in 2007. He also became the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy that year.
Going into Miami to play a winless Dolphins team in his first opportunity to start for the Broncos, Tebow will gain even more critics than he already has if he can't help his team win this one. He'll also let down all the locals in attendance who'd rather see their old college hero win a big game than their listless Dolphins.
HOW THEY DID:
Sunday in Miami Tebow managed to throw for only 24 yards total in the first half. He ran for 38 yards in the half, though, escaping a sure sack on one run to romp for 20 yards down the field. His team would have to overcome a 6-0 deficit in the second half to get the victory. Tebow's team finally put their first 7 points on the board in the fourth quarter and had to immediately go for an onside kick to get the ball back in time to score again and tie it up. A last-second touchdown drive including a two-point-conversion run by Tebow saved the day for the Broncos. That tied the score at 15, and Tebow organized a field goal drive in overtime to win 18-15. Tebow went 13-27 in the game, compiling 161 yards and 2 touchdowns on a day when he could have easily been the goat. Miami went for a two point conversion on their only touchdown in the game and missed it, allowing the possibility of overtime in the first place, so a little luck played a big role in Tebow's success Sunday. He also owes the hands team on the onside kick attempt a few big pats on the back for helping him get in position to drive his team to an overtime win Sunday.
Christian Ponder kicked off his starting opportunity in style with an immediate touchdown toss to put his Vikings up 7-0 against the Green Bay Packers. Adrian Peterson scored again for Minnesota on the next drive, and the Vikings added another field goal drive before the first half came to a close with the home team up 17-13 to the visiting Packers. Ponder would have to rely on his defense to keep the game close enough to win in the second half. Green Bay's quick start with a scoring drive on the first possession of the second half helped them escape from Minnesota with a 33-27 victory, as they hit cruise control once they finally seized the lead. Ponder had one last chance to perform miracles and stood on the field ready for fourth down on that drive only to have his coach send in the punt team. Ponder completed 13 of 32 passes for an impressive 219 yards and 2 touchdowns on the day, although his two interceptions didn't help his cause.
Both Ponder and Tebow completed just 13 passes in their inaugural starts of the 2011 season, but they had contrasting outcomes against vastly different opponents Sunday. Tebow and his Broncos relied on last second heroics to beat a team that has yet to notch a single win this season while Ponder and his Vikings let a great start and brewing upset get away from them against an undefeated squad none of the experts expected them to be able to compete with. Both QBs earned their keep and will both be in a position to start the next game for their respective teams and build on the momentum they created this week.
